Playing in the National Football League (NFL) is tough, but playing almost an entire season injured is a different story, and that is what Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy is going through this 2015.
According to ESPN, McCoy shared last Tuesday that he is playing this 2015 regular season with a torn rotator cuff which he suffered in their Week 2 victory over the New Orleans Saints.
"I was quoted as saying this has been my toughest year mentally," McCoy said, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
"I've been playing all year with a torn rotator cuff. I'm not a guy to make excuses. When people say, 'I'm not doing this and I'm not doing that,' I never attacked anyone. I just said I need to be better. I love this team and I love this game and anything it takes to be out there, I'm going to do it. That's just me," the 27-year-old defensive tackle added.
ESPN also mentioned in its report that along with the rotator cuff injury, McCoy also sustained a broken hand in Week 12's defeat to the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 29.
The injury required a procedure but McCoy only missed one game and immediately returned to action.
But it seems like injuries cannot take down McCoy as he is again named to the Pro Bowl for the fourth consecutive season.
This 2015, the third overall pick by Tampa Bay in the 2010 NFL Draft has 28 tackles and 7.5 sacks in 13 games played so far.
Unfortunately, the Buccaneers are fighting for their playoff hopes with only two weeks remaining in the 2015 regular season.
The Buccaneers are third in the National Football Conference (NFC) South with a 6–8 record, currently riding a two-game losing slump.
Tampa Bay's last two games this season will be a home stand versus the Chicago Bears this Sunday and a road game versus the currently unbeaten Carolina Panthers on Jan. 3.
